Mexico: We wasted a third of food

In Mexico lost an annual average, 37% of food volume that could feed more than 7 million people in extreme poverty and food insecurity, as developed in the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO ) in its report on food waste and losses.

Some of the most wasted food are: guava, 58% (about 172,000 tons); cow milk, 57% (6,000 million liters); mango, 55% (880,000 t); seafood, 54% (648,000 t); avocado, 54% (756,000 t); plantain and Tabasco, 54% (1.1 million t); nopal, 53% (417,000 t); rice, 47% (85,000 t), and cucumber, 45% (287,000t).

The losses are due to the lack of quality standards and certifications in value chains; inefficient management of inputs and outputs; bad management practices; inadequate transport systems, distribution and storage; lack of adequate infrastructure; improper use of packaging and packaging, and insufficient staff training.

Also, improper handling of the goods; ripeness of products; excessive purchases; mistreated or damaged products and product mix in good condition with other unfit for consumption. For example, in 2013, FAO said that 114,000 tonnes were recovered by bank stocks perishable and nonperishable food from the food industry, retail chains, concentrated markets, supply centers, agro-livestock and hospitality.

To avoid wasting food, the FAO has recommended the country standardize transport fleets based on the needs of the products; supervise the management of products; improving storage infrastructure; perform a constant check on the quality of products; improve conservation; foster new marketing strategies, and promote exchange of best practices, among other measures.

In collaboration with the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), the Mexican Association of Food Banks distributes food to 1.1 million people through its network of 61 banks in an effort to ensure access to food linked to the National Crusade Against Hunger.

SAGARPA is committed to studying the creation of incentives for farmers who make donations to food banks from their surplus, in order to avoid losses in food production.

In addition, he promised to build, in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development 10 food banks in Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Queretaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa and Veracruz, to rescue 43,000 tons, and build a center collection and distribution of food in Tepeji del Rio, Hidalgo.

Source: Newsletter of the Foreign Ministry of Agriculture of Spain